Plus: Powerful accounts of Libya horror, and the growing defiance of women in Iran
| | | | | Breaking News | | Days after resigning as head of Spain's football federation, Luis Rubiales has entered a Madrid court to answer a criminal complaint over kissing Spanish player Jenni Hermoso. Get the latest. | | |
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| | After Hunter Biden’s indictment on federal gun charges, our correspondent in Washington, Gary O’ Donoghue, unpacks what it all means for the US president. We’ve also got the latest on the horrific flooding in Libya, including powerful witness accounts. And scroll down to find out exactly what Nasa said about aliens and UFOs.
Writing today’s newsletter alongside me was another News Briefing recruit, Jules Darmanin. Look out for more from him soon. First, I'm going to challenge him to beat my quiz of the week score (5/7). |
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| | | | Top of the agenda | | More headaches for Biden | | | | Hunter Biden was charged after previous plea bargain collapsed. Credit: Reuters |
| | Even in this extraordinary era of US politics, it has been quite the week for Joe Biden. Days after the president was made the subject of an impeachment inquiry over his family’s business dealings – a political stunt, says the White House – his son was indicted on three criminal charges. Hunter Biden was a heavy user of crack cocaine when he bought a Colt Cobra Special revolver, in October 2018. But prosecutors say he lied to suggest otherwise on the application form - something he denies. Here's the background. Our Washington correspondent Gary O’Donoghue says Mr Biden’s Republican opponents see the president's son as a vulnerability. “Exploiting that has the power not just to significantly rile up Joe Biden, but also to help distract from their own problems with [former President Donald] Trump's legal jeopardies,” he says. | | • | Who is Hunter Biden? From Washington, Sam Cabral runs through the struggles and scandals of the president’s son. | | • | What it all means: The outcome of the case will play a significant part in what promises to be a turbulent election cycle, writes Gary O'Donoghue. | | • | Also on Biden’s desk: More than 10,000 workers at three carmakers have started strike action. Here's why it matters. |
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| | | | | | World headlines | | • | 'Unimaginable scene': Bodies of victims of the flooding in Libya are washing up on beaches more than 60 miles (100km) away, locals say. Joel Gunter hears powerful accounts of how the torrent of water destroyed entire neighbourhoods in Derna. Follow updates as the city mayor says the death toll could reach 20,000. | | • | Gone missing? US envoy to Japan Rahm Emanuel has questioned the absence of China's defence minister Li Shangfu, renewing speculation of a possible corruption purge. Li has not appeared in public for about two weeks, and other military leaders have been axed this summer. | | • | 'Not for sale': Taiwan's foreign minister Joseph Wu hit back at billionaire Elon Musk calling the island an "integral part" of China, akin to Hawaii in the US. Taiwan is "certainly not for sale", Wu said on Mr Musk's X, formerly Twitter. | | • | Alzheimer's hope: It has been a mystery for decades. But now scientists think they have figured out how brain cells die in Alzheimer's disease - offering hope for new treatment ideas. Health and science correspondent James Gallagher has the details. | | • | Costing an arm: An Irish tourist climbing a recently-renovated statue outside the Brussels stock exchange ended up breaking it. The man was arrested and the building's management want him to cover the cost of repairs. Watch the unfortunate accident. |
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| | AT THE SCENE | San Rafael, Argentina | | Quest to return wanted priest | | Survivors of crimes committed by the 1970s military junta in Argentina are fighting to see a priest stand trial for his alleged role in kidnappings and torture. Franco Reverberi, 85, has always maintained his innocence. | | | | Elena Basso, for BBC News |
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| | Mario Bracamonte was one of thousands of Argentines who were kidnapped by soldiers after the military coup on 24 March 1976. "The moment I saw Franco Reverberi, the priest from my village, come in, was the moment I thought I was going to die," he recalls. The fact that a clergyman was visiting him in his prison cell in northern Argentina came as no comfort at all. "I was lying on the floor soaked in blood after a night of torture. He came in dressed in his military uniform and looked at me impassively. I could not believe it." |
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| | | | Beyond the headlines | | 'I wear what I like now' | | | | Many women in Iran have permanently taken off their headscarf. Credit: BBC |
| | A year after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died at the hands of Iran's morality police, a growing number of women defy the dress code imposed by the Islamic Republic. About 20% go out without the veil, according to a Western diplomat. "We've become so much bolder and braver," one student tells Caroline Hawley. | | | | |
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| | | | Something different | | Beyond Katz | | The eateries ushering a new era of Jewish food in New York City. | | |
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| | | | And finally... | | After decades of fevered speculation, US space agency Nasa has finally published a report into UFO sightings. Its conclusion as to whether aliens are behind what it snappily calls Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena? Well, there's no conclusive evidence - but it doesn't rule out the possibility. Brandon Livesay summarises what we learned. Plus, hear what the scientists said about reports of ancient "alien corpses" in Mexico. |
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| | | | | | Football Extra Newsletter | | Get all the latest news, insights and gossip from the Premier League. | | |
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– Andy |
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